62 JRemarhs on the Beport of the Water Commission. 



sterling for their tigli level sclieme, and £750,000 for their low 

 level scheme. In a new undertaking of this kind it will be 

 necessary to leave a large margin. 



These objections are undoubtedly grave. If it were impossible 

 to do any better we should even be obliged to submit to them, 

 and must then content ourselves with making the best of dis- 

 advantageous circumstances. But, fortunately for the citizens of 

 Sydney, I think it may be shown that we are not shut up to so 

 unsatisfactory an alternative, and that the Greorge's Eiver scheme, 

 when more closely considered, will be found to help us out of the 

 the diiEculty. The catchment area of the George's River basin 

 is 375 square miles, while that of the Upper Nepean is only 354 

 square miles. The difference is not material. Both watersheds 

 are ample, but that of the George's River is at least at no dis- 

 advantage in the comparison. But there is this enormous 

 difference between the two schemes, — that while the benefit of 

 the Upper Nepean area would be largely wasted, that of the 

 George's Eiver would be utilised to the full extent required. In 

 a dry season when light showers fall, all that is not absorbed in 

 the soil, or evaporated, would find its way into the reservoir, 

 while, if we could suppose such a case as that of the reservoir 

 being dry, the whole value of a rain-storm would be secured 

 until tae reservoir was full and the water ran over the weir. 

 There would be no waste, therefore, except of water that was 

 absolutely surplus. 



A second advantage would be that no artificial conduit would 

 be necessary to bring the water to within a moderate distance of 

 Sydney. Kind nature would do that work for us. The channels 

 of the watercourses are conduits ready made to our hand, and 

 would gather all the disposable water, and bring it down to a 

 point from which we could easily draw it. The artificial works 

 for delivery would be simply confined to what would be necessary 

 for forwarding water from George's River to Sydney. 



The quality of the water in George's River would be equally 

 good with that from the Upper Nepean, most of the formation 

 being sandstone, and the whole area being only slightly inhabited. 

 The only contaminating causes at present in operation of any 

 importance are at Liverpool, a distance of 28 miles from the site 

 of the proposed dam. But even if these causes continue to exist 

 in full force they would not perceptibly affect the quality of the 

 water at the point at which it would be drawn off for city use. 

 But the probability is that when a superabundance of water is 

 supplied to the city of Sydney the manufacturing industries will 

 aggregate round the metropolis. 



An objection has been made that part of the water running 

 into George's River drains off the Wianamatta shales. This is 



